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INDUSTRY & RESEARCH of applications and ensuring that a particular project has sufficient resources to undertake the work proposed. If the return rate falls too low then a spiral of ambit bidding occurs, escalating the problem. If the success rates fall too low, this creates further tension in the system, particularly around the effort-to-return ratio for researchers.
I often emphasise this point and encourage applicants to be considered about what they request. The ARC ' s commitment is to ensuring that return rates remain as high as possible. One failure of a number of proposals this year – particularly those that were requesting large amounts of resources – was not sufficiently justifying the need for funds.
Another issue I continually raise as I consult across the sector is that researchers must get much better at articulating the need and benefit for a particular activity. This is not to say that all research must have an immediate outcome, indeed it is characteristic of most basic activities
that the benefits may not be realised until decades after the primary research is done. Nonetheless, researchers need to convincingly demonstrate why they are doing their work and indicate where this effort fits into the broader research and development landscape.
Whilst the ARC is, quite properly, a supporter of fundamental research, we also play a role in connecting researchers to activities outside academia. This is also a focus of the Australian Government, articulated in the Industry Innovation Competitiveness Agenda and Boosting the Commercial Returns from Research discussion paper.
A number of the ARC’ s funding schemes fit well with the government’ s new agenda, particularly through the Linkage Program. Our ARC Centres of Excellence, Industrial Transformation Research Hubs and Training Centres, Linkage Projects and Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities funding schemes forge strong connections between research and industry. These schemes are specifically designed to tackle current issues and deliver solutions that benefit business and the community.
The 2015 Excellence in Research for Australia round will commence in the new year, with the first stage of submissions opening in late February. ERA continues to be an important tool to evaluate research excellence across Australia’ s universities. It also fulfils the essential role of identifying areas of strength for potential international partnerships and evaluating the Australian Government’ s investment in research.
My interactions with the sector make me confident that it is in good shape. Our aim at the ARC is to continue to work closely with the sector and government to ensure research remains a focal point and that the work we fund delivers benefits locally, nationally and internationally. ■
Professor Aidan Byrne is chief executive of the Australian Research Council.
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